Animations

Into The Nucleus

This movie shows the nucleus, nuclear pore complexes, and the import of a model transport complex (docking, translocation, release) through a NPC. VIew animation.

Nuclear Pore Complex

These videos show an isolated model NPC from the side. View animation: Side.

Transport Complex

This video shows a transport complex based on the importin a/b heterodimer. b is on top, a is in the center, and a hypothetical cNLS-Cargo is at bottom. The combined a/b molecules are form a "S" shape more common for the larger members of the karyopherin b family. The NLS fits into a groove along the body of a. View animation.

This animation provides a hypothetical view of the NPC central meshwork, and a putative transport complex navigating through it. In reality, the transport complex is likely to "bounce" around more within the meshwork before it finds its way through. View animation.

Competition vs. Induced Dissociation

One complex can be favored over another by the presence of a high concentration of competitor. The competitor can simply titrate all available receptor molecules as receptor-ligand complexes dissociate at an intrinsic off-rate, or the competitor can induce dissociation of the ligand from the receptor by allosteric binding.